Associated Press SAVVY SENIORS: Arkansas’ Mason Jones, Jimmy Whitt Jr. and Adrio Bailey have collectively accounted for 56 percent of the team’s scoring this season, including 65 percent of all Razorbacks points over the last five games.OFFENSIVE THREAT: Xavier Pinson has either made or assisted on 44 percent of all Missouri field goals over the last three games. Pinson has accounted for 23 field goals and 12 assists in those games.WINLESS WHEN: Missouri is 0-9 when scoring fewer than 60 points and 13-4 when scoring at least 60.COLD SPELLS: Missouri has dropped its last seven road games, scoring 58.9 points and allowing 75.9 points during those contests. Arkansas has lost its last three home games, scoring an average of 76.7 points while giving up 78.7.DID YOU KNOW: The Arkansas defense has forced opponents into turnovers on an impressive 23.4 percent of all possessions, which is the 23rd-highest rate in the country. The Missouri offense has turned the ball over on 21.2 percent of its possessions (ranked 308th among Division I teams). February 20, 2020 Share This StoryFacebookTwitteremailPrintLinkedinRedditMissouri (13-13, 5-8) vs. Arkansas (16-10, 4-9)Bud Walton Arena, Fayetteville, Arkansas; Saturday, 1 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: Arkansas looks for its sixth straight win over Missouri at Bud Walton Arena. The last victory for the Tigers at Arkansas was a 75-71 win on Jan. 28, 2014.
Arkansas looks for home win vs Mizzou ___For more AP college basketball coverage: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and http://twitter.com/AP_Top25___This was generated by Automated Insights, http://www.automatedinsights.com/ap, using data from STATS LLC, https://www.stats.com
Category: yzzzsw
The Latest: Peyton Manning drops in on Tennessee class
The Latest: Peyton Manning drops in on Tennessee class Crosby was joined by Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux, Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal, and New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal. Crosby joked that everyone was looking at him for an answer about what he’d prefer about the resumption of the season after a pause for the coronavirus pandemic.Opinions vary on what’s next for the NHL, especially because there were 189 games left in the regular season and not all teams had played the same amount.“Whatever is the fairest,” Jordan Staal said. “Everybody would kind of accept that.”___Saints quarterback Drew Brees says he and his wife, Brittany, will donate $5 million to help Louisiana businesses and communities contend with challenges brought on by the rapid transmission of the coronavirus in the state. The series is still working on dates and locations for the 2020 season’s final six events.Eli Tomac of Cortez, Colorado, has a three-point lead over Germany’s Ken Roczen through the first 10 rounds.___The Colorado Avalanche say one of their players has recovered after testing positive for the COVID-19 virus. The player was at home in isolation since the symptoms first appeared.The team says anyone who had known close contact with the player has been notified. The team — which is partnering with Dignity Health and Cigna — says nearly 200 Arizona blood drives have been canceled since March 19 because of the coronavirus pandemic and that local supply has reached “critically low levels.”The team says the size of the stadium and the event’s layout will ensure that social distancing guidelines are met. Those who participate must register online in advance.___AMA Supercross has canceled five more races due to the coronavirus outbreak, but will complete its season later this year.The March 14 race in Indianapolis and last weekend’s in Detroit were previously cancelled. Five races through May 2 in Salt Lake City also have been shelved now. Brees, who posted his pledge on a social media account on Thursday, says the money will help several restaurants in which he has an ownership stake as well as a major hospital chain and charities like Second Harvest Food Bank to deliver about 10,000 meals per day to people in need.Brees says he hopes to fund the program “for as long as it takes to children on meal programs, seniors, and families in need,” adding, “Let’s all do our part, maintain hope, and get through this together.”The quarterback and his wife run the Brees Dream foundation, which has spent tens of millions helping to fund charitable endeavors in New Orleans and surrounding areas along the Gulf Coast. Most of those efforts have focused on improving learning and recreational opportunities for children as well as health and wellness for children and seniors.___The Indianapolis 500 scheduled for May 24 has been postponed until August because of the coronavirus pandemic and won’t run on Memorial Day weekend for the first time since 1946. In a statement, the organization adds it will “continue to work in conjunction with our medical staff and public health officials to do everything we can to help the Avalanche community remain safe and healthy during this time.”___Arizona Cardinals All-Pro linebacker Chandler Jones is donating 150,000 meals to food banks in Arizona and his hometown of Endicott, New York, to help families dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.Jones said in a statement that “these are really tough times and it is important for me to do my part and help out both here in Arizona and back at home in New York. There are a lot of people in need and everything we can do as a community makes a difference.”Jones set a Cardinals franchise record with 19 sacks last season. ___The NCAA will distribute $225 million to its Division I members in June’.That total is $375 million less than had been budgeted this year because the coronavirus outbreak forced the cancellation of the men’s basketball tournament. The NCAA says $50 million of the payout will come from its reserve fund. A $270 million event cancellation insurance policy will be used to pay off a line credit that will cover the remaining distribution.___ More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports,Tampa Bay Lightning advance to face Dallas Stars in Stanley Cup finals, beating New York Islanders 2-1 in OT in Game 6 Associated Press Tennessee communications professor John Haas was conducting an online class when Manning’s face suddenly appeared on the screen.“I just wanted to drop in and say hello to all the fellow communications students there,” Manning said. “I realize this is a unique time and probably not the ideal way you guys expected to spend your senior year, but I just encourage you to keep a positive attitude, keep working like you’re doing and try to take advantage of a little bit of the extra time that you have to accomplish something else or help out somebody in need – a lot of people (are) hurting out there during this time – be thankful for what you have and just know the University of Tennessee is proud of you and is going to support you every way (it) can and Dr. Haas and his department is going to do the same thing.”The University of Tennessee tweeted out Manning’s video appearance. The video also showed some students saying, “Thank you, Mr. Manning,” after the retired quarterback finished speaking.___The NFL has released a public service announcement in conjunction with an announcement of a donation of more than $35 million in COVID-19 relief aid. Among the possibilities could be minicamps or maybe non-mandatory captains’ practices.“This is a new day, and I think it’s going to have to be almost entirely dictated by the circumstances, once those circumstances are known,” Bowlsby said Thursday. “We have a lot of kids that are home right now and they’re not getting regular workouts like they would get in school.”While way too early to project how things will play out into the scheduled start of football season, Bowlsby said: “It’s hard to imagine looking up into a grandstand and seeing people sitting six feet apart,” or having no fans at all there.___The NFL’s Arizona Cardinals are helping organize a blood drive on March 31 at State Farm Stadium because of a local shortage. Share This StoryFacebookTwitteremailPrintLinkedinRedditThe Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___Five-time NFL MVP and former University of Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning dropped in on one of his alma mater’s online classes to boost the spirits of students having to finish their coursework virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic. Denver Broncos general manager John Elway is donating $50,000 to the Colorado COVID Relief Fund.Elway’s personal donation follows a $500,000 donation by the team.Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement: “Year after year, Coloradans have supported our Denver Broncos, and today I am beyond proud to thank the Denver Broncos for their support of Coloradans in our time of need.”The Broncos also donated 100,000 meals to the Food Bank of the Rockies and jointly hosted a personal protective equipment drive at their stadium last weekend.Elway said he wanted to support hospital workers, doctors and nurses who are the front line in the coronavirus pandemic. Elway mentioned his son-in-law, who is a doctor in Sacramento, California. “They truly are the warriors,” Elway said. Arteta, who turned 38 on Thursday, told the Arsenal website that he is ”completely fine” and that he only felt ill for a few days.He said “it was a normal virus for me. I had three or four days which were a little bit difficult, with a bit of a temperature and a dry cough, and some discomfort in my chest.”Arteta became the first Premier League figure to test positive for the coronavirus on March 12. The league was then suspended the next day.The Spaniard said his wife and nanny also contracted COVID-19, but his three children did not.He said ”we are all completely fine now.” —AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton reporting from Aurora, Colorado.___The Green Bay Packers have extended the closure of Lambeau Field through at least April 24 to help minimize the spread of the coronavirus after Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers issued a “safer at home” order through that date.Packers officials said the closure would continue until that order expires or until a superseding order is issued.This closure also applies to the Packers’ pro shop and the Packers Hall of Fame as well as any team-run public activities in Titletown, a complex of shops and restaurants near the stadium. ___The Chicago White Sox and Bulls have teamed up to commit $200,000 to support the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund.The fund launched by the Chicago Community Trust along with the city and United Way supports nonprofit organizations and agencies providing services to the most vulnerable during the pandemic. That includes food and basic supplies and cash transfers as well as help with rent, mortgage and utilities.___Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he has fully recovered from the coronavirus, two weeks after testing positive for COVID-19. ___The San Diego Padres planned to play “God Bless America” at empty Petco Park at 1:10 p.m. PT Thursday, which would have been the scheduled time for first pitch of their opening day game against the Colorado Rockies.With the season delayed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Padres planned to play the song “as a symbol of solidarity with our resilient country and all of you during this time of crisis,” the team said in a social media posting.The Padres also said they would partner with Phil’s BBQ, a local chain with a concession stand at Petco Park, to provide lunch for UCSD Healthcare and San Diego Blood Bank employees and volunteers.Some Padres players have been using Petco Park for workouts since Monday. They are limited to small groups and must follow social distancing guidelines. The PSA is narrated by Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez. It features more than 50 current or former players and New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton, who has tested positive for COVID-19.All 32 franchises are represented in the video. Each player used his phone to film messages, asking viewers to stay home to help limit the spread of the new coronavirus across the country. They provide examples of what they’re doing at home, from gardening to staging impromptu dance contests.___D.J. Augustin became the latest Orlando Magic player to try to help those affected by the coronavirus, donating to an effort to get food to health-care workers on the front line fighting the pandemic.Augustin donated to Krewe of Red Beans in his hometown of New Orleans. The organization brings food from restaurants in the city to those health care professionals. The race will instead be held Aug. 23. It was an inevitable decision but still had to be difficult for Roger Penske, who completed his purchase of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar in January and has already pumped millions into capital improvements to ready the historic venue for its first 500 under new ownership. IndyCar was supposed to resume racing May 9 on the road course at Indianapolis. That race will now be run on July 4, a day before NASCAR races at The Brickyard.___ Augustin’s family was forced from their home while he was in high school due to Hurricane Katrina, which ravaged New Orleans.Also Thursday, Magic forward Aaron Gordon — who has already made a donation to help homeless children in Central Florida — announced a separate donation to help kids in his native Bay Area of California. Gordon announced he was donating to a group called My New Red Shoes, which provides well-fitted shoes and clean clothing to children in need.___Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors held a half-hour talk on Instagram to discuss all things related to the coronavirus with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.More than 50,000 viewers were logged in for much of the talk — among them, former President Barack Obama, a very big basketball fan. Curry asked Fauci when it might be time to start thinking about sports again. Fauci told Curry “when the country as a whole has turned that corner,” and the curve that shows how the virus is still spreading nationally starts coming down.That, Fauci said, is when “we can start thinking about getting back to some degree of normality.”Obama added his thoughts by posting in the comment section during the talk, saying “Listen to the science. Do your part and take care of each other. Thank you, Steph and Dr. Fauci.”___Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby says it is unlikely that there will be any more spring football practices, and that considerations will be made for what teams will be able to do after the coronavirus pandemic, whether that comes in May, June or even later. Packers officials said Lambeau Field and Titletown will only have essential personnel in place for non-public operations of the facilities. Most of the other Packers personnel will continue to work remotely as duties permit.The Packers had announced March 13 they were closing their businesses to the public for two weeks. This move continues those closures.___Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby says he wouldn’t mind if the NHL went straight to the playoffs if the season is able to resume.“You try to get in as many games as you can … but wouldn’t mind starting right at the playoffs,” Crosby said on a video conference with media members Thursday. March 26, 2020
Deflated India find optimism in Melbourne heartbreak
NEW DELHI, India (Reuters) – The crushing defeat in Sunday’s final against Australia will haunt Harmanpreet Kaur and her team for a while but India hope the experience will only make them better before the next Women’s Twenty20 World Cup in 2022.India finished the group stage as the tournament’s only unbeaten team and progressed to the final after their semifinal against England was washed out.The expectations were naturally high, especially since India had beaten the hosts in the tournament opener, but Australia thrashed them by 85 runs to lift their fifth title. The cricket-mad country reacted with maturity to the setback and support poured in for Kaur’s team, which included several teenagers.“It was a tough day for #TeamIndia. Our team is young and will grow into a solid unit,” batting great Sachin Tendulkar tweeted. “You have inspired many across the globe. We are proud of you. Keep working hard and never lose hope. It will happen one day,” he added. Encouragement also came from men’s team captain Virat Kohli, who endured similar heartbreak in last year’s 50-overs World Cup, where India topped the group stage but lost in the semi-finals against New Zealand.“Proud of all the efforts put in by the Indian Women’s Cricket Team throughout their #T20WorldCup campaign. I’m confident that you girls will bounce back stronger than ever,” tweeted Kohli. Opener Shafali Verma had set alight the group stage with her batting pyrotechnics but endured a nightmare on Sunday when she managed two, having dropped player-of-the-match Alyssa Healy earlier in the match.The 16-year-old was in tears after the defeat and was consoled by senior team mates. “I told her she had to be really proud of the kind of campaign she’d had,” opening partner Smriti Mandhana said.“This is a time to introspect. Failure teaches you a lot more than success. The team needs to be left alone and think of how we can be better in the next few years.” Both Mandhana and skipper Kaur were woefully out of form in the tournament while India’s fielding was below-par in the final.“We didn’t field well. When you are playing a great level of cricket, you cannot drop the chances and we were not up to the mark,” Kaur said.“We will take this seriously and when we come to play next time, we will be one of the best fielding sides.”
Olympics and Paralympics in 2021 without vaccine is ‘very unrealistic’
IT is “very unrealistic” the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics will take place next year unless a coronavirus vaccine has been found by then, says a leading global health scientist.Professor Devi Sridhar said the development of effective and affordable treatment would be a “game-changer” in whether the postponed Games take place.The International Olympic Committee and Tokyo 2020 organisers held an executive board meeting this week at which they reiterated their hope the Games can be the “light at the end of the tunnel”.However, IOC coordination commission chair John Coates acknowledged Covid-19 could still affect the rescheduled Olympics, which are due to take place from 23 July-8 August 2021.Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, he said it could have an impact in terms of “mass gatherings or testing of athletes” and that the IOC would be guided by the World Health Organization.Professor Sridhar, who is chair of global health at the University of Edinburgh, said the chances of Tokyo 2020 going ahead as planned “all depends on a vaccine”.“We’re hearing from the scientists that this could be possible. I had thought it would be a year or a year and a half away but we’re hearing possibly this could come sooner,” she said.“If we do get a vaccine within the next year then actually I think that (Olympics) is realistic. The vaccine will be the game-changer – an effective, affordable, available vaccine.“If we don’t get a scientific breakthrough then I think that looks very unrealistic.“I think they’ve made the right decision in saying ‘we are going to put it back a year and re-evaluate’.“And I think that is the only way you can deal with this situation – to take stock, to be hopeful, to support our scientific community and our NHS community to do what they can, because science in the long-term is going to be the way we get out of this.”A nationwide state of emergency has been declared in Japan until 6 May because of the country’s worsening coronavirus outbreak.The IOC and Tokyo 2020 local organising committee announced on Thursday they have set up a joint steering committee to deliver the postponed Olympics, led by Coates and Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori.Mori said: “Soon after the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Games on 24 March, Tokyo 2020 established a ‘New Launch’ taskforce and we have been working since then to create a structure capable of overcoming these unprecedented challenges.“We believe that today’s new step is an important achievement in advancing over the coming year what we have prepared over the past five to six years. We will continue to work closely with all stakeholders to ensure the success of the Games.”BBC Sport has contacted the IOC for comment. (BBC Sport)
Hockey looking for steady play
Wisconsin forward Mallory Deluce will try to help the Badgers regain their offensive touch against OSU.[/media-credit]The Wisconsin women’s hockey team, which has stumbled to a 2-2 record in its quest to repeat last year’s national championship, hosts Ohio State this weekend for a two-game series at the Kohl Center.After splitting two weeks ago in Bemidji, Minn., the Badgers have their work cut out for them if they wish to maintain an early presence in both WCHA and national standings.Interestingly enough, head coach Tracey DeKeyser’s Badgers have held steady puck control, exhibited appropriate effort and possess passable numbers in every stat, save for goals scored.Passing lanes have been hard to come by, and shots have been noticeably off the mark as early season rust has been amply visible in Wisconsin’s first two weekend splits. Despite returning a myriad of gifted goal-scorers, the team lost — be it through graduation or the Olympics — a handful of the nation’s top offensive players and are still struggling to replace that departed production.Wisconsin has seen a dozen different players find the score sheet, but not a single Badger has more than two points through the season’s first four games. Senior Mallory Deluce, who stands as the lone Badger with both a goal and an assist, believes goals will come with time and chemistry.“We’ve had lots of shots and lots of chances, but I think its just because it’s the beginning of the year — we’re just kind of getting used to each other,” Deluce said of the Badgers’ offensive struggles. “Once it starts, it will just keep going, hopefully.”The Buckeyes come to Madison winless in their last 21 games against the Badgers. Wisconsin will look to extend that streak through fundamental hockey with an extra focus on playing one game at a time, Deluce said after Thursday’s practice.“I hope we come out strong, [with a] good forecheck and just play like we can,” Deluce said of her goals for the team against Ohio State. “Play simple, get lots of shots and just worry about the first game first. ”As in their season-opening series with North Dakota, Wisconsin dropped Friday’s game last weekend in Bemidji, and also like in the series with North Dakota, the Badgers responded with an impressive win on Saturday night.DeKeyser expects the Buckeyes to be very much the same hardworking team she has faced in years past. Ohio State enters the series with 1-2-1 record, after posting a 6-20-2 mark in 2008-09.“OSU is always a hard-working team, they are a tough team that goes hard from one end to the other,” DeKeyser said. “They like to crash the net. They’re just a hard-working group.”OSU struggled with injuries last year and consequently failed to live up to sizeable expectations. However, they enter 2009-10 with improved health and return a formidable defensive unit, bolstered by a healthy sophomore Kelly Wild, as well as one of the WCHA’s most feared offensive threats in Natalie Spooner.“Natalie Spooner is a pretty good center. She’s tall, she’s strong, she’s a national team member for Canada,” DeKeyser said. “She’s a scoring threat, so we’ll be wary of her and be conscious of her when she’s on the ice.”Considering Wisconsin’s early season struggles, it comes as no surprise that DeKeyser and her staff have had the Badgers focus primarily on improving themselves as opposed to applying heavy focus on their opponent.“We try to figure out what to do with their special teams, try and have a plan in action for penalty kill, (and) focus on face-offs,” DeKeyser said. “[We’ve focused] not so much with regards to what they do, but what we do ourselves.”
Ghana player ratings in the Cape Verde game
These are our ratings for Black Stars players who featured against Cape Verde this afternoon.1. Fatau Dauda: He was easily Ghana’s best player on the day. He pulled off save after brilliant save to keep the Blue Sharks at bay and at times the quality of goalkeeping was world class. If any performance will cement his place in the Black Stars starting lineup, this was it. No wonder he was officially voted the game’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). (9/10)2. John Paintsil: He was as usual solid but unspectacular. He came under pressure in spells during the game but played his part in ensuring that the Black Stars finished the game with another clean sheet. Performed his role without any fuss. (7/10)3. Harrison Afful: He was probably Ghana’s best player after Dauda. He won tackle after tackle and his enthusiasm got him booked, but he was rarely beaten in a one-on-one situation. Clearly his best game of the 2013 African Nations Cup. (8/10)4. John Boye: He was his usual solid self at the heart of defence and linked up very well with Isaac Vorsah. He covered well when Paintsil went on the attack. (7/10)5. Isaac Vorsah: He returned to his calm self against Cape Verde and formed a good defensive duo with Boye. He also regularly passed the ball out of defence, which sometimes kick-started Ghana’s attacks. (7/10) 6. Rabiu Mohammed: He had another solid game in front of the back four. Even though he was booked, he played a major role in stemming the incessant Cape Verde attacks and played his part in keeping the back door shut. It will be hard to see Anthony Annan displacing him on the evidence of his perfomances so far. (7.5/10)7. Emmanuel Agyemang Badu: He acted as the metronome of the team as usual and tracked back to assist Mohammed when necessary. He also found time to support the attack but was not as influential as the previous games because of the threat Cape Verde posed. (7/10)8. Albert Adomah: He had his toughest outing for the Black Stars so far. He wasn’t able to get as many crosses as usual, even though he worked hard and tracked back to assist Paintsil in defensive duties. He also switched roles with Christian Atsu. Not his best game, but the appetite for work was clearly there. (6.5/10)9. Kwadwo Asamoah: He had to help out in defensive duties, which he did to perfection and at times moved deep so Agyemang Badu could bomb forward. He sacrificed his attacking talents for the team to restrict the Cape Verde wave of attacks and on a tactical front, played his role well, even if it meant limited supply to Asamoah Gyan up front. (7/10)10. Christian Atsu: He tried hard to prise open the Cape Verde defence but found the going tough at times. He showed that he has the appetite for hard work as he also tracked back to help out in defensive duties, but still showed some flashes of brilliance. In a game that was won ugly, he played his part. (6.5/10) 11. Asamoah Gyan: Even though he did not score, Gyan’s hold up play was good enough to trouble the Blue Sharks and indeed he was fouled for the penalty that led to Ghana’s first goal. He remains important to the team whether he scores or not. (7/10)12. Mubarak Wakaso: He replaced Albert Adomah after the break and soon after, he assumed responsibility by coolly dispatching the penalty to claim Ghana’s first goal. He also took part in Ghana’s efforts at repelling attacks and after missing a gilt edged opportunity, he was put through in a counter attack and showed remarkable composure in scoring to finish Cape Verde off. He was however booked. (7.5/10)13. Solomon Asante: He replaced Christian Atsu and immediately provided an outlet on the right for Ghana once again. His close control and skills troubled the Blue Sharks and his efforts also protected Paintsil. (6.5/10)14. Derek Boateng: He came on for Mohammed and set about closing out the game which he did well with the little time that he was on. (6/10)
First Capital Plus League Outstanding matches rescheduled for Feb 24
The three First Capital Plus Premier League games which were scheduled to take place on Wednesday, have been postponed to Monday, February 24.Kumasi Asante Kotoko were due to take on Ebusua Dwarfs at the Baba Yara Stadium; Chelsea had a game with Ashantigold at the Golden City Park, while Inter Allies also had a tie with Medeama SC at the Tema Park in the match day 16 duels. But, according to Mr Ackah Anthony, a member of the Premier League Board (PLB) and the president of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG), the games had to be shifted following complaints of exhaustion by Ghana’s four representatives after the African club competitions last Sunday.“I can confirm to you that all the three games have been postponed to Monday, February 24”, Mr Ackah told Daily Graphic.Meanwhile, the league continues on Saturday with Aduana Stars taking on Accra Hearts of Oak at Dormaa, Amidaus Professionals versus Inter Allies at Tema, King Faisal host Hasaacas in Kumasi, Ashantigold versus Bechem United at Obuasi and Heart of Lions versus Wa All Stars at Kpando.
Dodgers’ Max Muncy added to NL All-Star roster
Dodgers hit seven home runs, sweep Colorado Rockies Cody Bellinger homer gives Dodgers their first walkoff win of season Fire danger is on Dave Roberts’ mind as Dodgers head to San Francisco Dodgers’ Max Muncy trying to work his way out of slow start Muncy said Roberts called him into his office to break the good news, but Muncy was alerted via text by his agent right before meeting with Roberts.“I already knew,” Muncy said. “I tried to fake it. I walked in there talking about, ‘Hey, if you’re going to tell me I’m not playing against a lefty, we’re gonna have a fight.’ So we just kinda joked around with it. That’s how I found out.”Muncy admitted he was disappointed he didn’t get in on the first try, but that pushed him to work harder. After a breakout 2018 season as a slugger for the Dodgers, Muncy has improved his all-around game this season.“I went into the whole offseason acting like last year never happened,” Muncy said. “So for me, that kept me from getting complacent. Made me hungry to go out there to work hard.”SEAGER TO RETURN AFTER BREAKShortstop Corey Seager won’t be rejoining the Dodgers before the All-Star break.Seager is scheduled to play three rehab games in four days with the Class-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes before the Dodgers decide whether to activate him. Seager has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since June 11.Roberts said he expects Seager to play in the three-game road series against the Boston Red Sox next week after the break, but he wouldn’t say if he’ll be available for the opening game of that series.“That’s the plan,” Roberts said of Seager playing in Boston. “But if we have to pivot from that we can do that. Nothing is ever set in stone.”Seager will join outfielder A.J. Pollock with the Quakes. Pollock played his first of five games with the minor league squad on Thursday.FREESE INJURY UPDATERoberts left the door open for infielder David Freese to return this weekend against the San Diego Padres.Related Articles Roberts referred to Freese as day-to-day and estimated that he’s 75 percent healthy. Freese said his knee tendinitis has cleared up, but he is still dealing with a hamstring injury. Freese hasn’t played since June 20.MINOR INJURIESCatcher Will Smith has not played since starting for the Dodgers in Arizona on June 25. He was originally optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City the next day. But the Dodgers put him on the major-league Injured List with a strained oblique muscle in his right side. …Meanwhile, right-hander Tony Gonsolin was placed on the seven-day IL by Triple-A Oklahoma City following his start Monday for the OKC Dodgers. Gonsolin has a left hamstring injury. He allowed four runs on six hits and three walks in just 3-2/3 innings Monday at Nashville. It was his first start since making his major-league debut in Arizona last week.UP NEXTPadres (RHP Chris Paddack, 5-4, 3.05 ERA) at Dodgers (RHP Kenta Maeda, 7-4, 3.78), Saturday, 7:10 p.m. SportsNet LA (where available), 570 AM
How Dodgers pitcher Ross Stripling topped the baseball podcast empire LOS ANGELES — Dodgers infielder Max Muncy used to attend Cleveland Indians games with his father, Lee. They’ll have a family reunion at Progressive Field next week, but Max Muncy won’t be sitting in the stands.He’ll be waving from the field as a first-time All-Star.Muncy was added to the National League roster on Friday, replacing Washington Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon, who withdrew from Tuesday’s exhibition game in Cleveland because of nagging injuries.“Growing up going to Cleveland Indians games all the time with my dad or with his dad,” Muncy said, “the way we always talked about going to Indians games, it’ll be pretty special going out there being my first All-Star Game in Cleveland.” Muncy now gives the Dodgers five players on the NL roster, joining outfielder Cody Bellinger and starting pitchers Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler and Hyun-Jin Ryu, the starter for the NL squad. Only the American League’s Houston Astros (six) have more players participating in the game. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is managing the NL team for the second consecutive year.Muncy, 28, has a batting average of .276 with 21 home runs and 59 RBIs.In addition to the Dodgers playing in Tuesday’s game, outfielder/first baseman Joc Pederson will be in Cleveland to participate in Monday’s eight-man Home Run Derby.Muncy was viewed by many as one of the biggest snubs when the full All-Star rosters were released. Roberts was one of those proponents.“I’m very excited,” Roberts said. “I’m just very happy for Max. Seeing (Muncy’s) production, Major League Baseball got it right.” Newsroom GuidelinesNews TipsContact UsReport an Error
Jobless Rate Spikes to 14.7%, Highest Since Great Depression
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. unemployment rate hit 14.7% in April, the highest rate since the Great Depression, as 20.5 million jobs vanished in the worst monthly loss on record. The figures are stark evidence of the damage the coronavirus has done to a now-shattered economy.The losses reflect what has become a severe recession caused by sudden business shutdowns in nearly every industry. Nearly all the job growth achieved during the 11-year recovery from the Great Recession has now been lost in one month.The collapse of the job market has occurred with stunning speed. As recently as February, the unemployment rate was a five-decade low of 3.5%, and employers had added jobs for a record 113 months. In March, the unemployment rate was just 4.4%The government’s report Friday noted that many people who lost jobs in April but didn’t look for another one weren’t even counted in the unemployment rate. The impact of those losses was reflected in the drop in the proportion of working-age Americans who have jobs: Just 51.3%, the lowest on record.In addition to the millions of newly unemployed, 5.1 million others had their hours reduced in April. That trend, too, means less income and less spending, perpetuating the economic downturn. A measure of what’s called underemployment — which counts the unemployed plus full-time workers who were reduced to part-time work — reached 22.8%, a record high.Though some businesses are beginning to reopen in certain states, factories, hotels, restaurants, resorts, sporting venues, movie theaters and many small businesses are still largely shuttered. As companies have laid off tens of millions, lives have been upended across the country.One of the newly unemployed, Sara Barnard, 24, of St. Louis, has lost three jobs: A floor manager at a pub and restaurant, a bartender at a small downtown tavern and the occasional stand-up comedian. Her main job was at McGurk’s, an Irish pub and restaurant near downtown that closed days before St. Patrick’s Day. She had worked there continually since high school.McGurk’s tried selling food curbside, Barnard said, but it was costing more to keep the place open than the money that was coming in. Around that time, the bar where she worked closed, and comedy jobs ended when social distancing requirements forced clubs to close.McGurk’s is a St. Louis landmark, and Barnard expects it to rebound quickly once it reopens. She just doesn’t know when.Job losses and pay cuts are ranging across the world. Unemployment in the 19-country eurozone is expected to surpass 10% in coming months as more people are laid off. That figure is expected to remain lower than the U.S. unemployment rate. But it doesn’t count many people who either are furloughed or whose hours are cut but who receive most of their wages from government assistance.In France, about half the private-sector workforce is on a government paid-leave program whereby they receive up to 84% of their net salary. In Germany, 3 million workers are supported in a similar system, with the government paying up to 60% of their net pay.In the five weeks covered by the U.S. jobs report for April, 26.5 million people applied for unemployment benefits.The job loss reported Friday was a smaller figure because the two are measured differently: The government calculates job losses by surveying businesses and households. It’s a net figure that also counts the hiring that some companies, like Amazon and many grocery stores, have done. By contrast, total jobless claims are a measure of just the layoff side of the equation.For the United States, a key question is where the job market goes from here. Applications for unemployment aid, while high, have declined for five straight weeks, a sign that the worst of the layoffs has passed. Still, few economists expect a rapid turnaround.The Congressional Budget Office has forecast that the unemployment rate will still be 9.5% by the end of next year. A paper by economists at the San Francisco Federal Reserve estimates that under an optimistic scenario that assumes shutdowns are lifted quickly, the unemployment rate could fall back to about 4% by mid-2021.But if shutdowns recur and hiring revives more slowly, the jobless rate could remain in double-digits until the end of 2021, the San Francisco Fed economists predict.Raj Chetty, a Harvard economist, is tracking real-time data on the economy, including consumer spending, small business hiring and job postings. Chetty noted the economy’s health will hinge on when the viral outbreak has subsided enough that most Americans will feel comfortable returning to restaurants, bars, movie theaters and shops.The data suggests that many small businesses are holding on in hopes that spending and the economy will rebound soon, he said. Small business payrolls have fallen sharply but have leveled off in recent weeks. And job postings haven’t dropped nearly as much as total jobs have. But it’s unclear how much longer those trends will persist.“There’s only so long you can hold out,” Chetty said.
Tuesday July 21st Local Sports
== other Class 2A State Quarterfinal games next Tuesday11:00 — North Linn (23-0) vs. Ridge View (11-8)4:30 — Louisa-Muscatine (18-5) vs. Underwood (14-4)5:00 — Ogden (19-3) vs. Mount Ayr (10-4)=== 3A State Quarterfinal games next Monday and Tuesday7:00 Monday — Albia (19-1) vs. Creston (13-5)7:30 Monday — Humboldt (20-2) vs. Mount Vernon (20-4)12:30 Tuesday — Davenport Assumption (19-5) vs. Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley (14-2)1:00 Tuesday — Williamsburg (23-4) vs. Algona (16-1) TONIGHT:AM-1300 KGLO, kgloam.com — 1A substate baseball at Nevada — Newman vs. Madrid — 7:00AM-1490/96.7-FM KRIB, kribam.com — 4A regional championship softball — Mason City at Charles City — 7:00 MASON CITY — Connor Dalen had three runs batted in, including the game-winning two-run single in the bottom of the sixth to lead Mason City over Valley 5-1 in a 4A substate baseball semifinal at Roosevelt Field last night, as you heard last night on KRIB. Dalen tied up the game at 1-1 in the fourth on a sacrifice fly and then got the go-ahead hit in the sixth. Bradley Vaith also added a two-run single three batters later to push the lead to the final margin. Alex Gold picked up the complete-game win, striking out five and helping his own cause going 3-for-3 from the plate. Mason City travels to Waukee Wednesday night for the substate championship game, a game you’ll hear on AM-1300 KGLO and kgloam.com starting at 7 o’clock. MANLY — Aurora Stepelton socked a grand slam in the bottom of the fifth to account for all of Central Springs’ runs as the Panthers beat Emmetsburg 4-1 in the Class 2A Region 5 championship game last night in Manly. The freshman designated player was 2-for-3 from the plate on the night. Cooper Klaahsen picked up the win, striking out 10. Central Springs is the fifth seed at the state tournament and will face fourth-seed Northeast of Goose Lake in next Tuesday’s state quarterfinals at 11:30 AM. == other Class 1A State Quarterfinal games next Tuesday3:30 — Lynnville-Sully (18-2) vs. Wayne (17-4)7:00 — Newell-Fonda (18-2) vs. Lisbon (20-3)7:30 — Clarksville (16-1) vs. Akron-Westfield (17-2) CHARLES CITY — In a Class 4A regional final tonight, Mason City travels to Charles City. The Mohawks come in with a 10-14 record after surviving a 17-14 win over Decorah in the regional semifinals on Saturday night. Charles City is 12-3, beating Center Point-Urbana 11-3 in the regional semifinals. You can hear the Mason City-Charles City game on AM-1490/96.7-FM KRIB and kribam.com starting shortly before 7 o’clock tonight. — A pair of local 1A baseball teams look to punch their ticket to the state tournament as they play in substate championship games tonight:== For Newman, they’ll face Madrid in the 1A Substate 2 championship game in Nevada. Newman is 16-5 after beating AGWSR 6-0 in the district championship game Saturday night, while Madrid comes in with a record of 10-5. You can hear the Newman-Madrid game on AM-1300 KGLO and kgloam.com starting shortly before 7 o’clock tonight.== St. Ansgar faces South Winneshiek in the 1A Substate 3 championship game at Cresco. St. Ansgar is 15-3 after beating Nashua-Plainfield 5-4 in the district championship, while South Winn is 24-1 after beating MFL-Mar-Mac 15-0. South Winn’s lone loss of the season was to St. Ansgar on July 6th, 8-4. DES MOINES — Attendance at Principal Park in Des Moines will be limited to around 2000 fans for the state baseball tournament. The tournament begins Friday with two first round games in 1A and Iowa Cubs general manager Sam Bernabe says there will be no general admission ticket sales.KGLO News · 7 – 21 – Icubstourney – 1Bernabe says there could be some games where the demand exceeds the number of available tickets.KGLO News · 7 – 21 – Icubstourney – 2Bernabe says each game will be treated like a separate session.KGLO News · 7 – 21 – Icubstourney – 3Bernabe says masks are not mandatory but are strongly recommended.KGLO News · 7 – 21 – Icubstourney – 4Principal Park has hosted the state tournament since 2005. == The Newman and Central Springs softball teams have punched their tickets to the state tournament after regional championship wins last night.ALGONA — The 12th-ranked Knights scored in every inning except one on their way to a 10-0 win over 6th-ranked Bishop Garrigan in the Class 1A Region 4 championship game in Algona last night, as you heard on AM-1300 KGLO and kgloam.com. Newman coach Tom Dunn says his team’s confidence showed in the game.KGLO News · 7 – 21 – Dunn – 1It’s another trip back to the state tournament for the Knights, and Dunn says each of his state tournament teams has been different.KGLO News · 7 – 21 – Dunn – 2Newman improves to 19-3 with the win and will face top-ranked and top-seeded Collins-Maxwell in the 1A state quarterfinal round next Tuesday afternoon at 3 o’clock.